Sexual addiction: Significant factor in sexual exploitation by health care professionals

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Abstract
Sexual exploitation by health care professionals is a prevalent but poorly understood phenomenon. To clarify the causative factors and prognosis of sex offending by this group, we report here the results of an intensive, multidisciplinary assessment of 137 health care professionals, 85% of whom were physicians, referred primarily by state licensing bodies because of allegations of professional sexual impropriety. Addictive disease was a prominent feature. Of the 137 subjects (97% male), 54% had a psychosexual disorder with addictive features, while 31% were chemically dependent. Concurrent addictions were also noted. Those who were sexually addicted had a higher prevalence of chemical dependence (38%) than did those who were not sexually addicted (21%). Two-thirds of the whole group (66%) were determined to be sexually exploitative, and 68% were impaired or potentially impaired and required at least temporary withdrawal from professional work. An archetypal classification of professional sex offenders is presented, which helps in understanding their motivation and orients the treatment team toward appropriate recommendations for treatment and possible reentry into professional practice. Sexual addiction was present in two-thirds of sexually exploitative health professionals. Evaluation for the presence of sexual addiction and chemical dependence should be an integral part of the assessment of sexually exploitative professionals.